The pain of infertility can be excruciating. As I stated in my book, A Seed of Hope: God’s Promises of Fertility, I found the pain of infertility to be worse than the pain of birthing a long-awaited baby via vaginal delivery! For some of you, infertility seems to be perpetual. It’s something you’ve lived with for so long and you don’t see the end in sight. The pain of it never fully goes away and is influenced by what (babies) and who (pregnant friends) you see daily. Well, I want to encourage you with something that you may not have considered before.
Yesterday, during my morning quiet time, I was looking for a scripture about healing and came across Jeremiah 15:15-20. This passage turned my quiet time an eye-opening and exciting experience in the Word! The scripture is not one that directly addresses infertility but it definitely can be applied to it. That’s what I love about God’s Word– it is so organic, malleable, and powerful. It’s able to bring LIFE to any situation we’re facing.
In this passage, Jeremiah is complaining to God about how long he has had to face an enemy, seemingly without any help from God. He even accuses God of failing him in his time of need. Sound familiar? But guess what God’s response was to Jeremiah… “Trust Me.” I know that seems like such an extraneous instruction, one that we hear often, especially when we don’t understand what God is doing. But trusting His faithfulness is the golden ticket to what ever we need from Him. No effort is required on our part. He simply wants us to trust that He loves us and will deliver us.
This particular passage of Scripture is best digested as a combination of various translations. Below, I’ve paraphrased the verses from a few different Bible versions. I hope they open your eyes to what God has to say about perpetual pain in our lives.
[Jeremiah says] You know where I am, God! You know, understand, and care for me. Remember what I’m doing here! Visit me and avenge me. Take my side against this enemy of mine. Don’t stand back while it ruins me. Just look at the abuse I’m taking! Don’t let my joy slip away while I wait on You.
When I found Your words, I devoured them. Your words made me glad. Your words are what sustain me; they are food to my hungry soul. They bring joy to my sorrowing heart and delight me. How proud I am to bear your name, O Lord.
Yet, You have failed me in my time of need! You have let this issue continue far too long. Why is my pain perpetual and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will this never stop hurting me? You are like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail and are uncertain. Your help seems like a seasonal mountain brook—sometimes a flood, sometimes as dry as a bone.
The Lord replied:
“Stop this foolishness and talk some sense! Return to trusting Me. If you return and give up this mistaken tone of distrust and despair, then I will give you again a settled place of quiet and safety. And if you cleanse your own heart from unworthy and unwarranted suspicions concerning My faithfulness, I will make you like a fortified, bronze wall— strong and impenetrable by troubles. Speak worthy, not worthless, words! You are to influence those troubles by speaking to them; by speaking what I have said. Do not remain silent and thereby let troubles influence you. They will fight against you, but they will not prevail over you, for I am with you to save and deliver you.”
[Paraphrased from Message, Amplified, Living, and NIV Bibles]
Here are three things that I gleaned from this passage that you can implement in dealing with perpetual pain:
- Make a decision to trust God, no matter what. Get rid of the attitudes and words of distrust and despair. (Philippians 4:6-8)
- Determine to view God as always being faithful. As a friend once told me, being faithful means you always say “Yes.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)
- Choose to ensure your conversations with others reflect what God has said about your deliverance. Speak worthy, not worthless, words! (Proverbs 4:20-22)
Now that you’ve read how God corrected and encouraged Jeremiah about his pain (and gave him hope!), what will you do to address the pain you’re experiencing today? I’d love to hear from you. Leave me a note about what you’ll do!
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles | FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Great post! I especially love the phrase that says we are to influence our troubles by speaking what God has said and not to remain silent. I have been silent lately, not speaking verses and words of hope. I’ve been allowing myself not to hope so that I don’t have my hopes broken each month as I wait. Thank you for sharing this Word.
This is awesome! I felt like these verses were speaking to me today. I have been confessing God’s word but sometimes it may not seem settled in my heart. Thanks for sharing.
I’m trying to enter into GOD’s rest, go back unto the place where I first believed, hoped, trusted in HIM, his promises!
Surround myself with those who will sojourn with me in faith and speak life and not detriment/negativity! Warrant his divine peace as I wait…not only for myself but for the often forgotten that walk this journey with me!
Letitia, I hope that you’ve found your way back to that place of trust and rest. Continue to believe that He is WILLING to come through on your behalf simply because He loves you.
I really appreciate your heart in encouraging us! It’s always spot on and a word needed in due season for me. I’m going to focus my mind on God always being faithful and He will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him. Gotta keep my mind on the one who speaks all things into existence. Nothing is impossible for Him.
Tracey, I’m so glad you find encouragement here! You are absolutely right…NO THING is impossible for Him to do. Keep expecting His love to do the impossible for YOU.
Good and inspiring